Blayre Turnbull returns home with Olympic silver medal

Blayre Turnbull says she appreciates the Olympic journey she has completed.

Turnbull returned home early Tuesday morning after the long flight from her participation in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in South Korea.

She was among members of the Canadian Olympic women’s hockey team that received silver medals after a 3-2 shootout loss to their arch-rivals from the U.S.

“It feels good to be home with an Olympic medal,” she said. “Our goal was to win a gold medal, but we feel proud about how we played.”

Turnbull, who is 24, said four years is too far to look ahead at possibly playing in the 2022 Winter Games in China. Her immediate priority is rejoining the Calgary Inferno of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League. She helped the Inferno to their first-ever Clarkson Cup league championship in 2016, scoring twice in their clinching 8-3 victory over Les Canadiennes de Montreal.

The Canadiennes defeated Calgary 3-1 in the 2017 final.

“I have definite memories that will last a lifetime, great teammates I met and friends that will last a lifetime,” she said.

She said she appreciates the huge support from fans for the Olympic team and hopes it translates into more support for women’s hockey in the non-Olympic years at the national level with the CWHL and throughout female hockey in Pictou County and elsewhere in Canada.

The Inferno have two road games this weekend in Markham, Ont. and will complete their regular season with two games in Montreal.

Blayre Turnbull is greeted by her grandfather Sam Turnbull and her grandmother Leona Turnbull, as well as family friend Marion Johnstone, upon arriving at the Pictou County Wellness Centre after her recent return home from the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. (Goodwin photo)